S. Ga. airport named for Jimmy Carter after debate

AMERICUS, Ga. — An airport about 20 miles from Jimmy Carter's hometown of Plains has been named after the 39th president despite some people opposing the change.

Souther Field Airport in Americus was renamed Jimmy Carter Regional Airport on Sunday.

The Americus City Council and Sumter County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously for the change last month, and the Americus and Sumter County Airport Authority approved it.

Opponents say they have no issue with Carter himself, and would be pleased to see anything else in town named after the former president. They just want to preserve local history including where Charles Lindbergh flew solo for the first time.

The airport was named after Henry Souther, who helped develop the airfield as a military training base during World War I.